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The Gangland Tapes

    
       
       
       
     
             
Löanshark are a heavy metal band from Spain formed in 2017 releasing their debut E.P. 'The Warning Sessions' in 2018. The bands first full length album 'The Gangland Tapes' emerged in 2021...    
             
...and is a compilation that includes all the songs featured on the bands E.P. and two singles (released in 2019 and 2020). The smell of eighties heavy metal is rife across all eight songs - the iconic NWOBHM guitar sound as prominent as it was forty years ago. The mass of catchy choruses and head banging rhythms over a thrilling thirty three minute gallop, will immediately hook fans of traditional heavy metal. 'Sinner Rider' explodes into life, racing out of the blocks like a world champion sprinter, full of pace, urgency, and intent. The glorious gallop of iconic metallers Iron Maiden is in full flight, with Löanshark delivering a spectacular early eighties romp.    
             
And the romps are far from over - 'Fast, Heavy, Loud 'N' Proud' a new anthem for the heavy metal faithful. 'Fast, Heavy, Loud 'N' Proud' is fast paced and infectious, with the chorus a glorious sing a long affair that is gonna be shouted, screamed, and screeched by fans from all over the world. Following such a scorching opening double, if you haven't already turned the volume up by now, you certainly will for 'Turn It Louder'. The sound of pioneering NWOBHM bands such as Angel Witch, Raven, and Samson, fills the air - and it fucking smells good! Löanshark may not have set out to be a retro band, but boy they've nailed the early eighties metal sound very hard.    
             
As the album cruises forward, the heavy thunder of British stalwarts Saxon is brought to life with 'Black Leather Queen'. Featuring a little less of the all out pace heard so far, 'Black Leather Queen' loses nothing of the albums overall early eighties feel, the chorus as catchy as hell. And at halfway 'The Gangland Tapes' is turning in a performance that will have the heavy metal traditionalists drooling! It seems like none of the bands from the early eighties who defined the NWOBHM sound are exempt from Löanshark's inspiration. This time it is the punkish nature of legendary metallers Motorhead - 'Heavy Metal Addicts' echoing the sonic battery of the bands 'Ace Of Spades' era. And just like the earlier 'Fast, Heavy, Loud 'N' Proud', 'Heavy Metal Addicts' is a rabble rousing call to arms anthem. Metal heads the world over will be raising their clenched fists high in the air to both of these.    
             
And as the album storms on, Iron Maiden's 'Tailgunner' (from the bands 1990 album 'No Prayer For The Dying') has a younger brother - 'Machine Gunner'. With just as much thunder and galloping fury as its elder brother, 'Machine Gunner' marches on, banging heads and raising fists everywhere. The instantly recognisable guitar sound of the NWOBHM breathes life into 'Midnight Shooter', yet another highly infectious and catchy romp. The band have a formulae and are sticking to it, delivering a cracking interpretation of a sound and feel that came to prominence four decades ago. The glorious NWOBHM is still alive, and doing very well, especially in the hands of bands like Löanshark. 'Red Light Blues' brings the album to a close, the unrelenting sound of traditional metal still very strong. This album (probably should read compilation) is definitely worthy of a place in every traditional heavy metal fans collection.    
             
Overall, a fast paced and infectious gallop of all out traditional metal - the sound of the NWOBHM featuring very heavily.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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